Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
The traditional Manipuri black rice pudding, or chak-hao kheer as it's known locally, is a culinary gem from the northeastern state of Manipur in India. This dessert pairs the distinct nutty flavor of black rice with the creamy richness of milk and cardamom, resulting in a velvety indulgence that's not only scrumptious but also brimming with health benefits. Black rice, or chak-hao, is the star ingredient of this pudding. It's a glutinous variety that transforms into a beautiful deep purple when cooked. This superfood is packed with antioxidants, notably anthocyanin, which gives it that vibrant hue. It not only boosts the nutritional profile but also contributes a unique texture and flavor - key to achieving that genuine taste and visual allure. Rather than refined sugar, the delectable sweetness of this dessert comes from the use of jaggery. Jaggery is unrefined sugar produced from sugarcane or palm sap. It contributes a deep caramel-like sweetness while also offering health benefits. These benefits include improved digestion and a good source of minerals such as iron and magnesium. Its robust, earthy sweetness pairs perfectly with the nutty flavor of black rice. Coconut milk is the key ingredient that adds creaminess and a layer of richness to the pudding. Not only is it a great dairy-free option, but it also complements the black rice and jaggery perfectly, contributing to the pudding's texture and introducing a hint of natural sweetness. Plus, it comes with its own health perks, providing a good source of healthy fats. No Indian dessert is truly complete without the subtle spice notes of cardamom to enhance its flavors. Manipuri black rice pudding relies on cardamom for that signature aromatic touch. Even a small amount can make a big difference, adding depth and complexity without overwhelming the main ingredients. And, it's not just about the aroma. Cardamom is also known for its digestive properties.
SOLAPUR, India (Reuters) - India is likely to produce a record amount of sugar in the next marketing year from October after millions of farmers expanded cane cultivation, encouraged by ample water supplies and declining prices of competing crops, farmers and industry officials told Reuters. The rebound in production would allow the world's second-largest sugar producer to resume exports in 2025/26, they said, after a lack of rain cut cane yields and led to two years of restrictions. Indian exports could cap global sugar prices, traders said, by increasing supplies in the world market at a t ...Read More >
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said a massive disaster had struck three assembly constituencies in Mandi district due to a cloudburst, with Seraj constituency being the worst affected. He visited the impacted areas, met families at rehabilitation centres, and sought central help to deal with the crisis. Speaking to the mediapersons, CM Sukhu said, ... A massive disaster has struck the state in three assembly constituencies of Mandi district, caused by a cloudburst... Areas of the Seraj constituency have been ...Read More >
Lucknow: As many as 21 out of 23 cooperative sugar mills managed to make 100% cane price payment, underlining the state govt's aggressive push for timely payments to farmers.Data show that the 23 cooperative sugar mills had to make a total cane due payment of Rs 2,730 crore, of which Rs 2,669 crore - around 97.78% of the total - has been paid.The apparent high level of compliance among cooperative mills is significant, considering that this segment has historically struggled with liquidity issues and delayed payments.In all, cumulative dues of only Rs 60.69 crores are pending on the cooperativ ...Read More >
Jaipur: Police in Didwana have stepped up their probe into a cross-border smuggling case in which they arrested two arms and drug smugglers on June 27 for supplying Austrian Glock and Chinese Norinco pistols. It has emerged that the case has links to a massive Rs 300-crore heroin consignment seized by Punjab's Amritsar police near the India-Pakistan border in Barmer on June 30. Canada-based Joben Kaler was identified as the main overseas handler of the heroin consignment. Didwana-Kuchaman police had arrested Mohammad Ilyas from Khunkhuna and Amarjeet Singh Takhar, alias Prince, from Jalandhar ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The central government on Tuesday denied media reports which claimed that the Ministry of Health has issued health warnings on Indian snacks such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo to fight obesity crises in the country. It noted that the warning labels on food issued by the Ministry of Health are "not selective towards Indian snacks". "Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo. This claim is fake. The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The annual rate of inflation based on the All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number edged up to 0.52 per cent for August, primarily due to the increase in prices of food products and manufactured goods, according to figures released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday. "Positive rate of inflation in August 2025 is primarily due to an increase in prices of food products, other manufacturing, non-food articles, other non-metallic mineral products and other transport equipment, etc.," the government said in a press release. However, the price ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) India's sugar sector has grown to become a Rs 1.3 lakh crore industry, and it is driving rural prosperity and energy security, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. The minister was addressing the 'Cooperative Sugar Industry Conclave 2025' & 'National Efficiency Award Ceremony'. "Under the PM Shri @narendramodi ji's leadership, India's sugar sector has grown into a Rs 1.3 lakh crore industry (annually), driving rural prosperity, energy security and green power through reforms like record ethanol blending and Atmanirbharta in fuel," Joshi said on a social ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has debunked media reports claiming that the Ministry has directed the issue of Warning Labels on food products such as samosas, jalebis, and laddoos, calling them misleading, incorrect, and baseless. The Union Health Ministry had separately issued an advisory which is an initiative towards making healthier choices at work places. It advises about display of Boards in various workplaces such as lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, meeting rooms etc., to raise awareness on harmful consumption of hidden fats and excess ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old girl from Sabroom in South Tripura district, reportedly went missing in the national capital. Following this, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha gave necessary instructions to the police to take immediate and appropriate action on the matter. Also Read | Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU Goods as Trade Talks Stall. In a statement posted on its official social media account, the Tripura Chief Minister's Office stated, "The report of Miss Sneha Debnath, a resident of Sabroom, who has reportedly gone missing in New Delhi, has come t ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 15: Several media reports on July 14 claimed that the Union Health Ministry had directed health warnings to be displayed on popular Indian snacks like samosas, vada pav, kachori, jalebi, and laddoo, similar to cigarette warnings, to promote healthier eating habits. These reports suggested that the ministry had urged departments to label the oil and sugar content of such foods and print health messages on official stationery to combat obesity and non-communicable diseases. However, the Press Information Bureau's (PIB) fact-check unit has dismissed these claims as false and mislead ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 15: The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday termed reports claiming it has directed vendors to put warning labels on food items such as samosas, jalebis and laddos as "misleading, incorrect, and baseless". It clarified that its advisory on health messaging about hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items is not a directive for vendors to put warning labels on their products, and underlined that it does not target India's rich street food culture. The general advisory is a behavioural nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not ...Read More >
Ghanaian cuisine, with its richness and diversity, reflects the vibrant culture of Ghana. Its distinctive flavors are derived from a variety of spices, which play a vital role, particularly in vegan dishes. This article delves into the key spices that are integral to creating authentic Ghanaian vegan recipes, highlighting their transformative power in elevating plant-based dishes. Grains of Paradise, a secret weapon in West African (and specifically Ghanaian) cuisine, pack a warm, spicy punch that's like a cross between pepper, cardamom, and coriander. These magical seeds can be used whole in ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) India's sugar sector has grown to become a Rs 1.3 lakh crore industry, and it is driving rural prosperity and energy security, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. The minister was addressing the 'Cooperative Sugar Industry Conclave 2025' & 'National Efficiency Award Ceremony'. Also Read | RBI Bank Holiday List for July 2025: Banks To Remain Closed on These Days This Month, Check Region-Wise Bank Holidays Dates. "Under the PM Shri @narendramodi ji's leadership, India's sugar sector has grown into a Rs 1.3 lakh crore industry (annually), driving rural pr ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 6(ANI): On the occasion of the fourth foundation day of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, a grand Sakhkar Samelan was organized in Anand, known as the Milk Capital of India, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Inaugurating various development works of the world-renowned Amul Dairy, Shah called for expanding the cooperative movement nationwide based on the five Ps - People, PACS, Platform, Policy, and Prosperity, said a release from the Gujarat CMO. Shah stated that the converg ...Read More >
World Chocolate day Chef Vanshika Bhatia (Image source: Unsplash) Who doesn't love chocolate? Whether it's a meal outside or at home, or it's one of those days that can be lifted by a simple block of chocolate (or a whole bar), chocolate has been the trusted warrior to fight off sweet cravings for as long as we have known. But how often have you had a savoury chocolate-y recipe? Chocolate isn't just dessert - this has been Chef Vanshika Bhatia's culinary motto. This World Chocolate Day, Vanshika spotlights chocolate not as dessert, but as an ingredient on par with salt, spice, and umami. Yes, ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) wrote a letter to Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, voicing concerns regarding the potential removal of restrictions on ethanol imports for fuel blending, amidst ongoing trade discussions with the United States. In the letter, ISMA emphasised the critical role of the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) in promoting clean energy and uplifting Indian farmers. ISMA highlighted that the government's clear policy direction, anchored in the National Policy on Biofuels (2018) and supported b ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): After some media reports claimed that Indian snacks like Samosa, Jalebis, etc will carry health warnings, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Tuesday issued a fact check stating that display of Sugar and Oil boards is general advisory to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specifically to any particular food product. It further clarified that the advisory of the Union Health Ministry has not been selective towards Indian snacks and does not target India rich street food culture. In a social media post on X, the P ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Union government on Tuesday clarified that no specific health advisory or warning was issued regarding displays of boards mentioning the sugar and oil content in snacks such as 'samosa and jalebi' to promote healthy lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases. Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the government, in a post on X, said, "Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo." "This claim is #fake. The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on fo ...Read More >
Bengaluru: A physics lecturer from a private college in Dakshina Kannada and two of his friends have been arrested by Bengaluru police for allegedly blackmailing and raping a student.When the mental torture by the trio became intolerable, the girl narrated to her parents how she was being exploited. Subsequently, she went to Marathahalli police station along with her parents on July 5 and lodged a complaint seeking action against the perpetrators. Acting swiftly, the cops arrested the trio the following day. The accused are Narendra, a physics lecturer, Sandeep, a biology lecturer -- both work ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], July 6(ANI): On the occasion of the fourth foundation day of the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, a grand Sakhkar Samelan was organized in Anand, known as the Milk Capital of India, in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Inaugurating various development works of the world-renowned Amul Dairy, Shah called for expanding the cooperative movement nationwide based on the five Ps - People, PACS, Platform, Policy, and Prosperity, said a release from the Gujarat CMO. Also Read | Bihar Assembly E ...Read More >
Lucknow, July 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Gangwar on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Congress for raking up the caste issue time and again for its "vested" interests. Taking aim at the Congress and its 'Yuvraj' (an apparent reference to Congress scion and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi), Minister of State for Sugarcane Development and Sugar Mills Gangwar said that the party's memory has weakened. Minister Gangwar's remark came two days after Congress leader Udit Raj stirred a row by questioning the government's "partisan" approach i ...Read More >
The longer-term implications are complex. India is achieving its fuel-blending targets, but at the cost of crop diversity. India's farmlands are in the middle of a quiet-but-dramatic shift. New government data show that crops linked to the ethanol economy -- sugarcane and maize -- are steadily expanding, while oilseeds like soybean, a critical crop for the country's edible oil security, are losing ground. This pattern is visible across states, being reinforced by policy incentives guaranteeing demand for ethanol feedstock. Bump for some The Ministry of Agriculture's latest weekly progress r ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that a dedicated team will be set up within the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for sugarcane research in the country. This team will also work on the sugarcane policy. The Minister made this announcement while addressing a national discussion on the sugarcane economy, organised by Rural Voice and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories in collaboration with ICAR. Chouhan said that sugarcane variety 238 have shown good sugar content but is vulnerable to red rot di ...Read More >
62% calories comes from carbs, added sugar intake higher than recommended India's rapidly changing eating habits are fueling an alarming spike in diabetes and obesity with at least 21 states and UTs exceeding the national recommendations of less than 5%E (total energy) for added sugar intake while overall protein intake was suboptimal averaging 12% of the daily calories, according to the findings of the survey as part of the study by Indian Council of Medical Research-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 2 (ANI): Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, the Health Department has prepared a strict and dedicated action plan to provide pure and safe food to lakhs of devotees during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, a statement said. Special teams of food safety officers have been deployed in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Uttarkashi districts. These teams will regularly take samples of milk, sweets, oil, spices, beverages, etc., from the pandals and send them to laboratories for testing. If any sample doe ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the provisional attachment of assets worth approximately ₹131.45 crore in Spain, including a luxury yacht and immovable properties, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Pavel Prozorov, a Spanish national and the alleged mastermind behind the unauthorised forex trading platform OctaFX. The attached assets comprise a commercial Italian-model luxury yacht cruising in the Western Mediterranean, a minijet boat, a luxury car, and two residential properties in Spain. The ED's probe was launched ...Read More >
Lucknow: Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak on Saturday launched a blistering attack on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of treating public property like personal wealth and misleading the people of the state. "The people of Uttar Pradesh are no longer naïve -- they now know the difference between promises and actions," Pathak said. Addressing mediapersons in Lucknow, Pathak criticised the alleged institutionalised corruption during the SP govt's 2012-2017 tenure. "From the JPNIC to the Gomti Riverfront and the mining department, everything was tainted by mismanagement, nepotism, and l ...Read More >
Mumbai: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai on Saturday assured that efforts are underway to increase the strength of judges in the Bombay High Court, which is currently functioning with less than 70% of its sanctioned strength. Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Bombay High Court, CJI Gavai said, "As on July 1, the High Court is functioning with 65 judges as against its sanctioned strength of 94." He added that the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court has recommended 15-16 names for appointment, which are under consideration. "At no cost, the independen ...Read More >